On
behalf of FLC’s Board of Directors and staff we truly appreciate all of the support and donations from our Friends of the Foothills. Your contributions help to further our efforts with the protection, preservation and
enhancement of our region’s cherished mountains, working farms and open lands. Foothills is poised to have a third straight record setting conservation year and your generosity helped to make that possible!

In the coming weeks, we will be launching an expansion of our giving programs. Our upcoming eNews blasts will provide the new benefit levels for our current ‘Friends
of the Foothills’ program, our new major gifts program for individuals and businesses,
called the ‘Conservation Circle’, as well as our planned giving program, called the
‘Legacy Circle.The launch of the Legacy Circle will coincide with the 'Foothills Foundation', a separate but supporting organization that will provide FLC with a permanent foundation
for land acquisition, land stewardship programs, a landowner financial assistance
fund and other conservation projects.

Please contact Elise Eustace at the Foothills office with any questions at 865-681-8326 or visit FLC's Donate Page to make a contribution today. Thank you!

Dedication of Rocky Fork

by FLC Board Member, Billy Minser

Last week we witnessed the dedication of Rocky Fork to the
public trust, in perpetuity. 8000 acres are becoming part of the Cherokee
National Forest (CNF) and 2000 acres of it now Rocky Fork State Park. The CNF
portion is now part of the "CNF Wildlife Management Area" with wildlife and
fisheries resources managed by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

As I
understand it, the State Park will be managed as a rustic park and plans are
being considered to include hunting and fishing in appropriate areas of the
Park perhaps similar to hunting/fishing arrangements at Fall Creek Falls State
Park. Were it not for the dedicated commitment by TWRA to manage wildlife and
fisheries resources on Rocky Fork for the past nearly 60 years, as well as the ardent
support of outdoorsmen and conservation organizations and others, we would not
have had the opportunity to acquire Rocky Fork.

Special thanks go out to all the
individuals who helped make this happen, in particular, Senator Lamar Alexander,
former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, and current Tennessee Governor, Bill Haslam. Additional thanks should be extended to the dedicated conservationists with TWRA,
the leadership of The Conservation Fund, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and many other organizations like
Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, and NWTF. Current and
future generations thank you for your vision and leadership. Last week in the
snow at Rocky Fork was a great day! Thanks to all.

The folks at Barnes and Noble's Knoxville store has
offered Foothills Land Conservancy the opportunity to 'wrap' up some holiday
donations again this year! As part of the their Gift Wrapping Program, FLC staff and volunteers can provide their wrapping skills for in-store purchases. Contributions for this service are voluntary for store patrons. FLC's scheduled times are listed below and we'd enjoy having you come out and help us! Please contact Elise at 681-8326 or by email at eeustace@foothillsland.org with interest. Thanks!

Sign up Dates/Times:Friday, December 14th from 6-10pmThursday, December 20th from 6-9pm

Location: Barnes & Noble (8029 Kingston Pike - Knoxville, TN 37919)

In the news...

UT Institute of Agriculture works towards American chestnut restoration

Mission Statement - Foothills Land Conservancy is dedicated to
protecting, preserving, and enhancing the lands and environments of East
Tennessee and promoting the character of the region for the benefit of the
general public, now and in the future. Foothills is a 501(c)(3) and does
not receive any financial assistance from local, state or federal governments.
We rely on individual and corporate contributions solely to sustain our
organization, land acquisition and stewardship funds. To make a donation to FLC, please click here.